50 file photos of Ho Chi Minh in China displayed; French book on An Nam people reprinted; Russian city highlighted at photo exhibition in HCM City; 36kg-bronze drum discovered in Thanh Hoa; My Tho City to house largest Buddhist tower in country; Vladivostok on show in HCM City

The Ho Chi Minh City University of Foreign Languages and Information Technology is hosting from May 22 an exhibition of 50 black and white photos of President Ho Chi Minh during his lifetime in China.

The photos, which were collected by the Vietnam-China Friendship Association and presented by Chinese friends, offer an insight into the late president’s activities in China and his sentiments for Chinese leaders and people.

The pictures illustrated meetings between Ho Chi Minh and Chinese leaders such as State President Liu Shaoqi, President Mao Zedong, and Premier Zhou Enlai, as well as President Ho and Chinese children, artists, and other citizens. Some of them showed him writing Chinese poems, enjoying the beautiful scenes in China, and dancing with Chinese cadres in Guilin.

This photo collection will be exhibited in Ho Chi Minh City’s Women Cultural House in September and in Shanghai City in October as part of a series of events to celebrate President Ho’s 119^th birthday, the 60^th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China and Sino-Vietnam Friendship Year (2010).

French book on An Nam people reprinted

The book “Techniques used by the An Nam people” is a social study on the An Nam people in the north of Vietnam in the early 20th century, written by French writer Henri Oger, has been reprinted.

Associate Professor Olivier Tessier, from the French Institute of Oriental Studies said at a presentation ceremony at the French Cultural Centre in Hanoi on May 20 that the book is an unprecedented study on the material culture of Vietnam from the early 20^th century.

The book comprised two volumes. The first one has 160 pages, including 30 pages of paintings and was translated into Vietnamese, French and English. The second one has 700 pages and over 4,000 pictures, diagrams and paintings.

2,000 copies of the book have been published along with 1,000 DVD.

The book was reprinted with the support of the French Institute of Oriental Studies and the French Embassy in Vietnam to help Vietnam preserve its intangible cultural values.

A seminar on the book and an exhibition of pictures and drawings from the work will be held at the French Cultural Centre in Hanoi.

Russian city highlighted at photo exhibition in HCM City

A photographic exhibition portraying the Russian city of Vladivostok opened in Lam Son Park, District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City on May 21 to welcome a delegation from the City Mayor’s Office to visit Vietnam.

More than 50 photos of famous landmarks in Vladivostok such as the Holy Protection, the Gogalya Crossroads, Orlinaya Hill, Tokaren Lighthouse and Fokina Road are being showcased at the five-day event.

Vladivostok is Russia’s largest port in the Pacific Ocean and the administrative centre of Primorsky Krai. It is situated near Russia’s border with China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

The next Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit is scheduled to be held in the city in 2010.

36kg-bronze drum discovered in Thanh Hoa

A 36kg-bronze drum, 40 cm high and 60cm in diameter, was discovered in the northern province of Thanh Hoa on May 20.

The drum was unearthed in Le Van Luong’s garden in Phuc Duong commune, Nhu Thanh district.

According to local residents, the drum with a five-frog design on the skin remains intact.

The drum is now being kept at the Nhu Thanh district’s People’s Committee.

My Tho City to house largest Buddhist tower in country

Construction of the Lien Hoa tower, believed to be the largest in Vietnam, at a cost of VND12 billion has started at a pagoda in My Tho City in the southern province of Tien Giang.

The 40m tower will be built to a hexagonal design and have 10 storeys, including the ground floor.

The administrative council of Truong Sanh pagoda said that the ground floor will be reserved for laying out the coffins of both Buddhists and poor workers before they are buried. The ninth storey will be for worshipping the Xa Loi Buddha and other related religious activities, it said.

The building is expected to be completed by 2010.

Vladivostok on show in HCM City

A photographic exhibition portraying the Russian city of Vladivostok opened in Lam Son Park, District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City on May 21 to welcome a delegation from the City Mayor’s Office to visit Vietnam.

More than 50 photos of famous landmarks in Vladivostok such as the Holy Protection, the Gogalya Crossroads, Orlinaya Hill, Tokaren Lighthouse and Fokina Road are being showcased at the five-day event.

Vladivostok is Russia’s largest port on the Pacific Ocean and the administrative centre of Primorsky Krai. It is situated near Russia’s border with China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

The next Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit is scheduled to be held in the city in 2010.

Paris show spotlights Vietnamese posters

A total of 138 posters created by Vietnamese painters since 1945 are being showcased at an exhibition that opened in the French capital city of Paris on May 20.

The posters feature the late President Ho Chi Minh, the country’s many traditions, many aspects of life and events in Vietnam’s history that marked milestones in the country’s development process.

Since its opening, the exhibition has drawn a large number of visitors, including those from the Associations of Overseas Vietnamese and Vietnamese Students in France and foreign cultural centres around the city.

Nguyen Dao Toan, Director of the Local Culture Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the show aims to introduce French and foreign friends to Vietnam’s leading social and production emulation movements since the country’s founding in 1945.

The exhibition, the first of its kind held in Paris, will last until June 10.

Website on Hanoi books launched

A website introducing good books on Hanoi as well as the grand ceremony to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi was launched yesterday at the address www.nxbhanoi.com.vn.

The webpage named “Thang Long Culture” is run by the Hanoi Publishing House. The web launch is under a project Bookshelf ‘Thang Long- Thousand Year of Culture’.

The web introduces good books on Thang Long – Hanoi as well as provide information on books to be made public and also issues relating to the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi.

PV